YouTube Censors Documentary on Palin's Churches
[vote up on digg] Palin was baptized at Wasilla Assembly of God and attended the church for over two and a half decades, and she has been publicly blessed by a number of pastors and religious leaders employed by and associated with that church.
Last Sunday our research team released a video, a ten-minute mini-documentary, focusing on the Wasilla Assemblies of God and the video seemed on the verge of a massive "viral" breakthrough when YouTube pulled it down, citing "inappropriate content."
At the point the video was censored by YouTube it had been viewed by almost 160,000 people. The short of it is that YouTube has censored a video documentary that appeared to be close to having an effect on a hard fought and contentious American presidential election.
Censored video: "Sarah Palin's Demon Haunted Churches[YouTube-censored 'viral' video on Vimeo.com]
For documentation, video sourcing and background articles, see Talk To Action article, Sarah Palin's Demon Haunted Churches - The Complete EditionContains :
-Documentation on the sources of video footage used in the documentary.
-A written summary of the surrounding story, to contextualize the video.
-Supplemental Documentation on the Third Wave movement.
Two days ago I contacted YouTube asking what in the video was deemed "inappropriate" but I haven't received a reply. Meanwhile, YouTube has allowed someone else to post our video in full, but it is no longer in our control and so we no longer are able to update information we had included with our original video, including links to our articles which provide sourcing and documentation on our video.
The video was part of a wider effort by our research team, which has written several articles and released two short videos documenting religious beliefs espoused at Sarah Palin's Alaska churches - especially the Wasilla Assemblies of God, the Juneau Christian Center and the Church On The Rock. Our team has over a decade's aggregate experience in researching political and theological beliefs of the American Christian conservative right and has been researching for several years the particular religious movement and doctrines these churches promote.
Our video had climbed, the day before YouTube censored it, to the #10 'viral video of the day' spot according to a website that tracks viral videos. Moreover the video, and our attached stories explaining the "Third Wave" theology associated with at least three of four of Palin's Alaska churches, were being posted on web sites associated with conservative Christians.
Our research has already impacted the current presidential election, as evidenced by the three-minute and forty second "God Sent Hitler" video that was shown around the world and forced John McCain to renounce the political endorsement of pastor John Hagee (according to according to the New York Times and a wide range of other media including the LA Times, The Wall Street Journal, AP, the Dallas Morning News, CNN and MSNBC). The video featured an excerpt, from a late 2005 sermon, broadcast internationally and sold by Hagee's ministry as a DVD, in which Hagee stated that "God sent a hunter - Hitler was a hunter" and suggested the divinely appointed mission was to drive Europe's Jews to Palestine because that was, according to Hagee, "God's top priority." Hagee's beliefs have also been targeted more frequently by his fellow conservative Christians than by the Roman Catholic and Jewish communities that he attacks in his sermons.
If Sarah Palin may hold apocalyptic end-time beliefs or believes that she has a divine mandate to initiate an end-time conflict, American voters have the right to know about the doctrines taught in Palin's Alaska churches. These churches are closely associated with a movement, called the Third Wave or New Apostolic Reformation, which holds views that are highly controversial, particularly among other conservative Christians who are most aware of this fast growing international phenomenon. The activities of the movement have been condemned as heresy by the General Council of the Assemblies of God, to which two of Palin's churches currently belong. Accusations even stronger than 'heresy', decrying the "Third Wave" religious movement, have been launched from Fundamentalist and Evangelical Christian groups.
Our focus on Palin's churches does not "bash religion" and has been praised by conservative Christians for its academic rigor. We are examining the religious views promoted at Palin's churches because the Third Wave / New Apostolic Reformation movement rejects pluralism and its followers believe they have been anointed by God to lead a unified superchurch into the final age - both of which have public policy implications.
Sarah Palin has every right to hold whatever religious views she chooses but, by the same token, the American people have every right to know what Palin's religious beliefs are - especially to the extent that they may include the view that all other religious and philosophical views but her own are under the influence of demonic powers and that believing Christians must conquer the Earth and cleanse it of evil in this final generation.
Our primary focus is not with the hyper-charismatic manifestations, 'outpourings,' associated with the "Third Wave" movement in which those 'slain', 'washed' or 'soaking' in the spirit bark, howl and shriek, shake spasmodically, laugh or sob, crawl about on all fours, bang their heads on walls, and fall into stupors - all which the participants seem to enjoy. Neither is our main focus on problematic healing sessions, in which demons are expelled, that sometimes involve patients being kicked or head butted. Our focus is on beliefs behind these manifestations - such as the idea that these outpourings indicate that the participants are part of an "army of God" and comprise the final generation before the end times. Also problematic is that these healings and supernatural works are seen not as "divine intervention" by God but as the result of supernatural gifts imparted to those humans "anointed" to participant in ridding the world of evil.
From a standpoint of public policy it is significant that Third Wave doctrine teaches that their leaders are raising a generation of youth who will be imparted with supernatural powers and form a conquering Christian army. These youth, often referred to as Joel's Army and as the generation born after 1973, will purge the earth in preparation for Jesus' return. The movement features special gatherings of believers to use "spiritual warfare" to purge "territorial demons" and end "generational curses" in order to transform the cities of America and the world. Social reform thus takes place through the expulsion of demons.
Third Wave doctrine is an example of an extreme religious exceptionalism - not only are all other religious and philosophical belief systems on Earth seen as invalid and under satanic influence, but Third Wave theology sees all competing branches, sects and denominations of Christianity, particularly other conservative Christians who refuse to join "the river" of these outpourings, as an obstacle to God's divine will. Third Wave adherents believe that other Christian churches must drop their competing doctrines, which prevent them from joining this final end-time army, and group together under the new authority of the Apostles and Prophets of this final age. In other words, true believers will join together, in one triumphant end time church, to do battle against evil in the final generation. C. Peter Wagner, a central figure in the organization of the movement, believes that this second Apostolic age began in 2001 and that it is "heralding the most radical change in the way of doing church at least since the Protestant Reformation." He also claims that this international movement under the direction of his Apostles is the only large sector of Christianity growing faster worldwide than Islam.
Wagner and his Apostles monitor their progress through the World Prayer Center in Colorado Springs, attached to the New Life church formerly led by Ted Haggard. Leading Apostles and Prophets with titles such as "Generals of Intercession" go on spiritual warfare ventures with names like "Operation Ice Castle" - to attack the territorial demons which they believe prevent Muslims and Roman Catholics from embracing the true faith. In one such venture, one of the participants happily testified that she believed their efforts against the demon, "the Queen of Heaven", may have resulted in the death of Mother Theresa.
The American public has a right to know that Sarah Palin, Alaska governor and now GOP vice presidential candidate, may hold such views. And YouTube, as an evolving Fourth-Estate media institution, has the responsibility of refraining from censoring efforts at informing the American public about Palin's likely beliefs.
On June 8, 2008 in the Wasilla Assembly of God, her church of over 25 years, Alaska Governor Sarah Palin declared United States military forces in Iraq to be "out on a task that is from God." Head Pastor of that church, Ed Kalnins, has also made statements indicating that he views the current conflict in Iraq as part of an apocalyptic end-times struggle. Palin recently stated her enthusiasm, in a widely televised interview, for war with Russia - a country that, along with the United States, possesses vast stockpiles of intercontinental nuclear ballistic missiles. The American public has a right to know if Palin believes, as does the Third Wave movement in which her churches take part, that she has a divine mandate or "anointing" to do battle to purge those she views as evil from the world.
Most Americans do not want an American jihad to conquer the world in the name of God let alone a global nuclear war. Judging from the churches Palin attends and from her public statements we have to take very seriously the prospect of having a Vice President, a heartbeat away from the United States presidency, who holds such apocalyptic goals.
[below: new video documentary, our second, "Palin's Churches and The Holy Laughter Anointing]
Palin's Churches and The Holy Laughter AnointingFor documentation, video sourcing and background articles, see Talk To Action article on Palin's Churches and The Holy Laughter Anointing
[below - introduction from article]
Rodney Howard Browne is recognized worldwide as the source of Holy Laughter anointing to revivals around the globe. He has become a central figure in the Third Wave, also known as the New Apostolic Reformation, and is credited with bringing Holy Laughter to the Toronto Airport Blessing and the Lakeland Outpouring. Howard-Browne is also a long time associate of Mike Rose, senior pastor of Juneau Christian Center, formerly the Bethel Assembly of God. When in residence in Juneau, Sarah Palin has chosen to attend Juneau Christian Center as documented by the church, and by the Alaska Assemblies of God state newsletter, Alaska Update.
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Palin subscribes to an apocalyptic religion and receives Neocon tutelage, I think it's safe to say she is very, very dangerous.
Bizzarro world!
We've been acquainted with the GOP's love for cultish religions, but I always thought it was purely an exploitation from the politicians to get their votes. Now, this other dimension is scary and unacceptable in our Constitution.
It was ENOUGH to have Bush say God told him to go to war, we swallowed that, and look what happened, no way can we take a chance on another religious nut in the WH. Our forefathers are crying in their graves.
Thanks for putting this valuable info for Americans out. I wonder what Youtube's real motivations for removing it are.
Matthew 15, 8 and 9
If you are curious as to what a demon looks like - a demon looks like the people flopping around in these videos. A demon looks like those who would destroy all the places of worship of those who are not identical to them. This place manufactures evil, while posing as a place to worship the Dove Of Peace.
unbelievab
mccain/palin are even trying to skate a great big fat one past "the evangelicals"
palin's extremist "christianity" doesn't even accept OTHER evangelical movements unless they embrace HER particular brand of apocalyptic extremism
HuffPost's Pick
I grew up attending an Assembly of God church. I went to seminary to be a minister. I interned as a young minister for a couple years after seminary. I quit the church as a young adult. I believe in God. But these people at Assembly of God churches live in their own fantasy world. They seriously think they have super natural powers from God. I think that if you went to a mental institution and an Assembly of God church you wouldn't be able to tell the people apart except that the people at church are better dressed.
One personal observation about adults who attend Assembly of God churches. They lie thru their teeth to you without hesitation. I think that lying to themselves about having super powers makes it easier for them to lie about everything else. Something to think about when Sarah claims she opposed the Bridge to No Where again tomorrow at a Rally.
If Palin believes in lying, she should feel right at home in the McCain campaign. That whole campaign seems to be based on nothing but lies.
Please, please send this 'I grew up attending an Assembly of God church' post to your local, state and national newspapers
how do other christians view it?
My mother was a devout attendee at an Assemblies of God church when I was a child. I never felt comfortable with the weirdness. The end of my curiousity about them came when I asked their pastor to explain the discrepancy between Mary's virgin birth and Matthew's account of the line of David to Jesus through Joseph. The pastor said I was posessed with demons and ordered me out of the church. I was 12 years old.
lol. Jesus save me (from your followers).
Wouldn't the antichrist have to be a female gentile member of the ruling class to be the opposite of a Jewish working-class male?
Based on their own interpretation of the Apocolypse, that thought had occured to me also.
"Go out and make disciples of all men"
You see, this what annoys me so much about religion. Stop trying to force it on everyone else. Keep your fariytales to yourselves.
Nota bene: Any religion is funny or scary to those who are outside it.
As Robert A. Heinlein said, "One man's theology is another man's belly laugh."
Get over it.
See Bruce Wilson's Profile
Of course.
And, some religions declare that all other religions and belief systems are invalid or even demonically influenced. This is one such religion.
Get over that.
On Point!
Who was belly laughing when the religious people crashed 2 planes into the twin towers?
Who?
Please. Tell me.
WHO WAS LAUGHING!?!?!?!!
I won't get over it.
And perhaps that is the reason for separation of church and state. And the reason it should remain so.
Political decisions based on religious belief look "funny or scary" to Americans-- except the ones who attended Jesus Camp. See the documentary.
Apparently Bush and the republicans think the middle eastern religion is scary. Maybe your not american, but here religion is a serious threat. Look what it has done to the middle east.
Gee whiz, we can't have any TRUE believers! FALSE believers, just fakin' it for political gain, are OK, however!
You mean McCain, right?
I am not aware that any of "Palin's" churches (did she really manage to attend so many?) have been so anti-American, anti-White, anti-capitalistic, as Obama's church. You have a documentary on Jeremiah Wright's sermons? Where is it posted?
Palin is in the Pulpit saying," Iraq is God's plan!" Wright's sermons are right, if you listened to the whole sermon. God Damned us from being true believers of his word. Don't you see that or economy is down the drain? The lord did it because our leaders in America love money and war.
"Thou shalt have no other gods before me" Exodus 20:3
"Pride makes a God of ourselves, covetousness makes a God of money, sensuality makes a God of the belly. Whatever is loved, feared, delighted in, or depended on, more than God, that we make a god of."
The lord did nothing. Dont blame the lord on the actions of men.
Here is an example of a typical church service in an Assembly of God church.
Someone starts speaking in tongues in the middle of the service with a message, not to God, but to everyone else in the church.
Everyone waits for someone else to start interpreting the message in tongues to the church.
Someone starts interpreting what was said in tongues to the rest of the church.
When someone interprets the message for the church it is taken as a message directly from God.
Understand this clearly, they think that speaking in tongues is a message from God, then someone thinks that they know what the message is and they start saying it to the church.
The message could be anything.
It could be... everyone should go to church more often. Or pray more often. Or try to convert people more often.
Or, it could be... the gay people in this country are going to bring the wrath of God. Or the feminists are destroying the family. Or books about witches have demon spirits in them.
The people who go to Assembly of God churches are true believers. They think this is all real and super natural. They think that these messages from God are from God.
Sarah Palin grew up in an Assembly of God church. So did I. It takes a personal choice to break from logic and reality to keep attending an Assembly of God church as an adult. I quit at 22-23.
Attended six colleges in 5 years - interested in Wright? go to their site view their sermons and make your own decision OR repeat what you have been told.
sad thing is some of the things Wright was talking about are happening right now- and you don't even see it. - unfortunately- they came from him in what sounded hateful (depend on how you view it. not everyone would agree) so no one wants to listen. When wright was talking about us being all over the world etc. Look right now- seems like some people are itching for a fight with Russia and/or Iran. I agree with most that certain things should not be talked about in church, but some of it was true. the parts about how we treat others around the world. Think about it, just because we think it is right to bomb terrorists in Pakistan etc- with lots of collateral damage, those people are not going to see us as friends they see us as the terrorists- (did we not just destroy those civilians lives- take loved ones from them)
Given the credentials of your crew, I am sad to think that this video was pulled for "innapropriate content'. Wonder who complained? It was high up there, to be sure.
I agree absolutely with your statement: she can hold whatever religous beliefs she wants to. But the voters have a right to question them and decide if we think those beleifs might affect the decisions she makes, her job, or how she might influence the president. It frightens me that she may see the V. Presidency as a tool to forward the end times... our foreign policy already is colored by this
How in the world is someone like this run for higher office? The Republicans that are there for lower taxes have to be scared of some fundie nut who just wants the world to end and could care less about everything else.
This is truly serious.
Any group - religious or otherwise - who makes claims to world domination and professes violence ("death" was the word used in the video) MUST be kept from political power, Islamic or Christian - or any other form though they occasionally achieve it (including, sadly, GWB).
All religions are inventions of mankind and use symbology to convey messages. Religions which move between locations or cultures are usually reinterpreted with new symbols. However, in the case of Christianity (and Islam), somehow it developed the literary problem of being interpreted literally instead of in its symbolic form. And the message was lost in the (lack of) translatio
In the modern age, we are desperately in need of a new mythology, one that's global in scope and character instead of parochial, tribal, ethnic or regional..
.
Ok. I am officially terrified.
I googled this "cult" and was blown away by how many members they have all over the world...mi
How do we get this out?
I'm sending this to everyone I know.
Dude, where have you been? The GOP has been a subsidiary of the Moonies for decades.
http://www
So the GOP loves religious cults and religious cults love the GOP.
Our current mid dle easte rn forei gn pollicy is in large part based on this "philosophy" already.
File DCMA Third party infiringement claim. I and another lost our youtube accounts that way, and I used less than two minutes of a video shot by another user.
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